Romans 6:11 Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
So, what does it mean to “reckon yourself to be dead to sin?” Many translations render this phrase “consider yourself to be dead,” but what does that look like?
Another good word for “reckon” is “believe.” You must believe that you are dead to sin. But that is not the end of the verse. You must also reckon (believe) that you are ALIVE TO GOD in Christ Jesus! So, what it really means is to stop believing and thinking of yourself as a “sinner,” and start believing you are a forgiven, redeemed son of God.
The problem is: thinking and believing does not change automatically, it is changed by what you continually look at and meditate on. Without daily reading and hearing the Word of God you will stay focused on your failures and shortcomings and never actually become what Jesus paid for.
Filling your heart and mind with the gospel builds faith and displaces doubt and wrong thinking. It changes how you see yourself and how you speak about yourself.
The Bible says that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45 Matthew 12:33-37)
What is in your heart and mind (believer and thinker) will eventually come out of your mouth, and that is the other thing that must change.
You will never be free from sin while keeping it in your language!
So, stop talking about how normal it is for you to sin. Stop saying, “We all sin! Everybody sins! You know you are always going to sin!” You must STOP talking about your sin and the sins of others and STOP filling your prayer life with wrong confessions of how sinful and unworthy we are. STOP BOASTING IN YOUR ABILITY TO SIN!
That is NOT humility, it is BLASPHEMY! HE MADE YOU WORTHY!
Talking and thinking that way is “reckoning” (considering, believing) yourself alive to sin. It is saying that sin still has power over you, and therefore suggests that the finished work of Jesus did not actually accomplish anything for you.
Sin only has power over you if empower it.
IF you do miss it and sin, run to God, and declare “I am sorry, that is NOT who I am Lord! That is certainly not what You look like in me! Thank you for making me clean and transforming me into your image. Thank you for perfecting your work in me and bringing me to the place where this is not an issue anymore. Thank you for your blood! Thank you for redeeming me!” That is what repenting looks like after you have been saved.
Understand that you have a new identity that was purchased by the blood of Christ. Without your constant exposure to God’s Word, you will never find out who you are, and who you were created to be. Here are some scriptures that tell you who you are:
“You are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:10)
“You have been perfected.” (Hebrews 10:14)
“You are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
“You are holy, blameless, and above reproach in His sight.” (Colossians 1:22)
“You are chosen by God, without blame, an adopted son, accepted, redeemed by His blood and forgiven by His grace.” (Ephesians 1:4-7)
To truly live the abundant life in Christ you must die to your fallen, carnal nature. For you to be successful at this you will need constant intake and exposure to the Word of God.
Your Bible and your relationship with the Word of God is the vital key to dying to sin. So, give yourself to reading and listening to the Word and boast in Him and what He has done!
